Nationwide Campaign Calls for Increased Government Funding for Ireland’s Nursing Homes
Dublin: A nationwide campaign has been launched by Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI), urging the government to provide greater financial support to address the critical funding issues facing the country’s nursing homes. Central to the campaign is a call to reform and properly fund the Fair Deal scheme, which has faced mounting criticism for its shortcomings.
Several nursing homes across Ireland have already closed due to financial and management difficulties, with NHI warning that more are at risk unless the funding crisis is urgently addressed. The Fair Deal scheme, which provides government funding to accredited private nursing homes to cover the costs of long-term care for residents, has been criticised for not adequately supporting families and care facilities.
NHI is also advocating for fairer wages for nursing home staff, highlighting that certain categories of care workers in private facilities earn less than their counterparts in the Health Service Executive (HSE). This disparity, they argue, is contributing to the challenges of staff recruitment and retention in the sector.
The review of the Fair Deal scheme, which has been ongoing for seven years, has yet to be finalized. Tadhg Daly, Chief Executive of Nursing Homes Ireland, expressed frustration over the delay, calling it “unacceptable.” He stressed the importance of publishing and implementing the review’s findings to ensure the long-term sustainability of care for Ireland’s elderly population.
Daly emphasised that the organisation aims to raise public and political awareness of the challenges facing nursing homes and make it a key issue in the upcoming election campaign. NHI is calling on political parties to include comprehensive plans in their manifestos to address the pressing needs of residential care for the elderly, ensuring that future generations receive the care and support they deserve.
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